Guidelines for the Environmental Control of Objects on Display in FuturePlan

May 2006

1. Temperature and Relative Humidity Control (See Appendix 1, 1)

Museum collections are susceptible to deterioration by temperature and/or humidity, and the V&A operates an object-centred environmental strategy with regard for the 'sustainability' policy.

The Museum will display collections in the conditions in which they have existed to date, except where;

  • V&A objects are inherently unstable e.g. corroding metals.
  • V&A objects are known to react adversely to extremes or fluctuations in the environment e.g. waxes, parchment
  • Loaning institutions have stipulated tighter environmental conditions
  • Current or future research, together with knowledge of the collections, demonstrates an unacceptable risk to the collections

The design approach should consider the following -:

- Local control should be used where possible using appropriately specified showcases.

- Objects requiring similar conditions should be co-located to reduce costs.

-Reducing daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity within the gallery should be considered in the design approach, , e.g e.g. by using physical barriers such as doors

2. Open Display(See Appendix 1, 2)

Collections will be exhibitedwithout covers or cases except where this poses an unacceptable risk to their long term preservation. Display decisions are be taken on an object by object basis.

Objects considered to be at risk include:

  • Those with porous or decorative surfaces that remain in the gallery without rotation.
  • Collections with fragile original or early decorative finishes e.g. early furniture and sculpture
  • Collections that are inherently fragile e.g. silk textiles

Airborne dust and dirt may cause damage to some objects either because they are inherently fragile or because of the inability to remove dirt without causing damage during the cleaning process.

All air movement systems should be fitted with dust filtration on ingress vents. There are two levels of dust filtration:

  • 95% efficiency at 2μm for collections which are environmentally sensitive, inherently fragile or have fragile original surfaces.
  • 85% efficiency at 5μm where more robust collections are to remain on long-term open display.

The design approach should consider the following -:

- Environmentally sensitive objects on open display should combine the use of physical barriers with local adjustments to the heating/ventilation system.

- Refinement ofany gallery’s existing air handling system should only be considered once more sustainable approaches have been exhausted. Introduction of air-conditioning should only be as a last resort.

- Inherently fragile materials and objects should be placed in air tight showcases that buffer the objects from temperature & humidity fluctuations and provide dust control.

3. Light (See Appendix 1, 3)

Light causes irreversible damage to light sensitive collections. The museum may display its collections using a combination of natural and artificial light. There are three types of collections which require particular consideration in relation to light;

  • Light-sensitive; these should be illuminated to 50 lux , or a cumulative light dosage of 200,000 lux

hours, (≈ 50lux for 10 hours/day 365 days /year). These collections will require rotation.

  • Light-durable; an upper limit of 250 lux illumination
  • Light stable; requiring no specific light restrictions.

Loaning institutions may request alternative lighting regimes

The design approach should consider the following -:

- Exposure for all collections should be minimised by turning off lights when the museum or a gallery is closed.

- Interactive systems which minimise light exposure should be employed for light sensitive collections.

- No ultra-violet light should fall on the collections.

- All sources of heat (e.g. projectors, lamps), associated with lighting should be placed outside display cases.

Checklist to be used in association with the Environmental Guidelines

for Object Display in FuturePlan

1. Temperature and Relative Humidity

Will the gallery contain objects that are known to be inherently unstable? / Yes/No
Will the gallery contain objects that will be damaged by extremes or fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity? / Yes/No
Will the gallery contain objects on loan to the V&A which require specified environmental conditions? / Yes/No

If the answer is Yes to any of the above, environmental control is required.

2. Open Display

Are any objects to which you answered Yes above to be placed on open display? / Yes/No
Will any inherently fragile objects be placed on open display? / Yes/No
Will any objects with fragile original or early decorative surfaces be placed on open display? / Yes/No

If the answer is Yes to any of the above, environmental control of the gallery space (including dust) is required.

3. Light

Will the gallery contain objects that are light sensitive? / Yes/No
Will the gallery contain objects that are light durable? / Yes/No
Will the gallery be illuminated with natural light? / Yes/No

If the answer is Yes to any of the above, light modelling of the galleries space is required to minimise damage to the collections. Object rotation must be part of the design.

Appendix 1: Environmental Guidelines for Objects on Display FuturePlan

1. Temperature and Relative Humidity

Inherently unstable collections / Collections Sensitive to high humidity (>70%) / Collections Sensitive to low humidity
(< 35%) / Collections Sensitive to Fluctuations (>10% rh change in one day. Longer term (seasonal) drift is acceptable)
  • Corroding metals
  • Plastics
  • Unstable glass
  • Photographs
  • Photographic negatives
  • Waxes >22°C
/
  • Organic materials
  • Mould growth;
Fur, feathers, hair
  • Swelling; jointed furniture
  • Metals
/
  • Organic material (shrinkage and cracking)
  • Photographs
/
  • Parchment
  • Stretched canvases
  • Collections containing soluble salts
  • Organic materials particularly where there is a large surface area to volume ration.
  • Jointed furniture.
  • Composite objects where expansion and contraction rates of each material differ.
  • Multi-layered decorative surfaces.
  • Collections conserved with organic materials

2. Open Display/Dust

Inherently fragile material / Fragile /original Decorative surfaces
  • Textiles particularly costume, silk carpets.
  • Original and early upholstered furniture.
  • Animal derivatives; fur feathers hide.
  • Waxes
/
  • Painted Furniture
  • Sculpture
  • Painted textiles
  • Manuscripts
  • Decorated leather
  • Friable media on paper e.g. charcoal, pastel.

3. Light

Light Sensitive material (particularly relating to colourants which will fade) / Light–durable material (often related to long term degradation of substrates e.g. paper) / Light Stable
  • Watercolours
  • Pastels
  • Japanese prints
  • Portrait miniatures
  • Indian miniatures
  • Coloured prints
  • Old Master drawings
  • Leather bound books
  • Textiles including upholstery
  • Discoloured Paper
  • Surface pigmented waxes
/
  • Black and white etchings and engravings
  • Drawings in graphite (pencil)
  • black chalk and charcoal
  • Easel Paintings
  • Painted furniture
  • Painted sculpture
  • Coloured Waxes
/
  • Stone
  • Ceramic
  • Glass

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Victoria and AlbertMuseum: Guidelines for the Environmental Control of Objects on Display in FuturePlan